Lancashire pensioners' bus cash deal agreed (From Blackpool Citizen)

Lancashire pensioners' bus cash deal agreed

9:50am Wednesday 17th December 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

A DEAL has finally been struck in the cash saga over free bus travel for pensioners.

Following crisis talks, council bosses have each agreed to contribute money to a Lancashire-wide scheme, ending months of rows between town halls.

The move represents a u-turn by Pendle council, which earlier this month vowed to keep its government grant and spend it on other projects.

Under the government’s concessionary fares scheme, each council has been given a cash allocation to cover the costs of free bus travel for over 60s.

Initially town halls agreed in principle to pool their resources and asked Lancashire County Council to run the scheme centrally.

But financial forecasts suggest some councils - notably Pendle, Hyndburn and Blackburn - stand to make a profit, while parts of West Lancashire are facing deficits because of the amount of bus journeys they have to pay for.

Following this revelation, Pendle Council announced earlier this month it had withdrawn from the agreement and would set up its own administration.

But after the county’s political leaders met in Preston last week, a complex deal has been struck which will see councils contribute a set amount to the pot, and retain any surplus.

County councillor Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for sustainable development, said: “It’s a complicated arrangement but it has meant the pan-Lancashire scheme has stayed together.

"It was encouraging how much the district councils wanted to work together.”

The deal could still leave areas like Blackpool facing a deficit of more than £1million, and county council leader Hazel Harding is set to lobby central government for extra funding to cover the shortfall.

Earlier this year a similar arrangement between the 12 district councils and County Hall to police car parking fell apart after costs spiralled, and Coun Tomlinson said he was relieved to have avoided the same scenario.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)